The Barrio of Nueva Verz Cruz

A number of people have asked me about the barrio where I live. What kind of area is it in? Is it more rural or urban? I have posted some pictures of the barrio in this blog so you can have an idea of the area we live in and the people that we are serving.
I will be leaving Bolivia tommorow for some vacation time with my family in Florida.
It is tough to have to go north during your winter but it is only Florida.
I will be returning on Friday, January 30th.

Good Morning

Good morning my friends and family from Cochabamba,
We are enjoying a beautiful morning here and my heart goes out to you in the middle of a harsh Northeastern winter. That isn't true but it sounds good to say.
Things are going well down in Bolivia. I am getting a bit more aware of the barrios and all the dynamics of life. I look forward to getting more involved with the lives of the people here and coming to a better understanding of their experiences, joys and struggles of life. As school starts again and the activities and programs in the barrios begin to pick up there will be ample opportunities to see how it is that the Lord is working here in the lives of the people.
Next Monday I will leave Bolivia for 10 days away. I will visit my brother and sister-in-law in Florida for a week. It takes 2 days to get there and 2 days to get back - so much for the speed of modern transportation. Although I didn't plan to go back to the States until the summer I see that it is a good break for me and a chance for me to be with my family.
Hope all is well and please feel free to be in touch by email or on skype. The contacts that I have from friends and family are always a joy for me.

Greetings from Nueva Verz Cruz

Hello All,
Greetings from Nueva Vera Cruz.
I just returned to the Center House in Cochabamba for my day off after a long week in the barrio. I will usually be off Sunday afternoon into Monday. It is a nice break and allows me some time to think and pray after my experiences of the week.
All is going well and I am getting a better sense of the barrio and the lives of the people there. I had mass up the mountain at the barrios of La Rivera and El Costa Nera. I will now be going up every Saturday night as we begin to establish our ministry and presence there.
I am getting a bit more confident in the language as I am able to communicate a bit more easily with the people I am serving.
On the 20th I will be going up to Florida to visit my brother and sister-in-law. It will be a nice time away and good to connect with my family once again.
Again thank you all for your prayers and support for my time here.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Bolivia!
Just arrived back at the Maryknoll Center House where in a few hours we will be having the traditional Christmas bar-b-q. Just like home. Although it is a bit cold and overcast - about 70 degrees.
I am missing you all on my first Christmas here in Cochabamba but all is going well. I celebrated La Misa de Gallos in el barrio de La Rivera last night and then concelebrated Mass but at the Main Chapel in Nueva Vera Cruz afterwards.
This morning I celebrated Mass again at the Main Chapel and then we participated in the chocolate and bread served to the children in the avenida in the barrio.
It was a very different but wonderful Christmas. Getting much more in touch with the lives of the people I serve and understanding more about their lives.
may the Lord bless all of you this Christma season.

Advent Greetings

Good Morning.
I have finished my first week working full time in the barrio and all is going well. I am still finding my way around and trying to learn the ins and outs of mission work. We have 3 weddings this weekend. At Sunday Mass we have a wedding, 3 children and 1 adult being baptized. There is a mother's club meeting this afternoon and a sacramental preparation session for adults tonight. I spent yesterday afternoon and evening painting our kitchen after a priests meeting in the vicariate in the afternoon. This is the quiet time in the parish (summer here) but things certainly fill up the day.
We are presently preparing for Christmas and all the celebrations that go with it. There will be a mass on Christmas Eve up the mountain in Riviera and also a mass in the Nueva Vera Cruz on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Please keep us all in prayer during these important days.
Buenas Duas.
Yo termine mi primera semana trabajando en el barrio and todos esta bueno. Ahora, necesito apprender que es importante en el trabajo missionero. Este fin de semana tenemos 3 matrimonios. Por Misa del Domingo tenemos 1 matrimonio, 3 ninos y 1 adulto por baptismo. Ayer yo traboje en la preparaction de muestra cocina despues una reunion de los sacerdotes de la vicaria.
Ahora preparamos por Navidad y todos los fiestas. Tenemos Misa de los Gallos ariba la montana en el Riviera y en Nueva Vera Cruz tambien y una misa por los jovenens en la manana de Navidad.
Por favor recuerde me en sus oraciones.

Moving Day

Hello My Friends,
I finished up classes yesterday and I officially move into the barrio tonight. I am helping out with the Sacrament of Reconciliaiton for a Confirmation class in one of the other chapels in the parish so will take the advantage to move into the barrio. Please keep me in your prayers as I officially begin my work in the barrio and begin to experience the mission there.
Several people have asked if they could help out the mission financially. There are several ways to do this. For the technologically gifted you may contribute online at www.maryknoll.org. You will find all the information that you need there under the donations section in the Maryknoll Priests and Brothers section. As needs develop in the barrio I will let you know about the specific things that are needed. If you would like to give specifically to our work in the barrio please include my name in the donation.
For those in contact with me by Skype I will usually be available on Sunday nights and Mondays since I will be at the Center House those days. My Skype contact is tgraff1. My email continues to be tgraff@maryknoll.org. Thanks to so many who have been in touch.
God bless.